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Since the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, protests across Iran haven’t died down. Now Iranian Christians around the world are joining the movement, denouncing the death of Amini who reportedly died at the hands of Iranian authorities for not wearing a hijab properly.
“We are all together regardless of ethnicity, religion, language or belief, in this fight against the shared pain of injustice, oppression and religious dictatorship, as well as our hope for life, freedom and equality,” Hamgaam Council of United Iranian Churches said in a statement.
Thursday marks the 13th day of protests in the country and Iran’s president is now warning the people that the protests can’t continue. State media outlets in Iran are reporting that 41 people have been killed and more than 1,200 arrested. Some are reporting death toll numbers even higher at 76 including women and children.
Amini was in Tehran when morality police arrested her and took her into custody, where she suffered a heart attack and slipped into a coma.
On Tuesday the United Nation expressed their concerns on the government crackdown on protests. In a tweet they say, “We are concerned by continued violent response by security forces to protests & communications restrictions following death of Mahsa Amini. Iranian authorities must respect rights to freedom of opinion, expression, peaceful assembly & association.”
#Iran: We are concerned by continued violent response by security forces to protests & communications restrictions following death of #MahsaAmini. Iranian authorities must respect rights to freedom of opinion, expression, peaceful assembly & association. https://t.co/8g4MwQUKMK pic.twitter.com/4M4sRLcUi2
— UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) September 27, 2022
The UN says at least 18 journalists have been arrested in Iran as well as human rights defenders, lawyers and civil society activists. Women across the country are fighting back and standing up for their rights.
Things are changing in the country. The Iranian people have seen what heavy oppression is like under the Shiite Islamic regime and they are fighting for change. The underground church in Iran is the fastest growing church in the world today and many attribute that to the hardships the country has faced.
Before the Islamic regime took over in 1978, Iran was a free republic. Since then their rights have been stripped under the religious dictators, especially for women. Citizens are posting on Twitter, women out in the streets, eating lunch and living their lives without wearing their hijabs and mandatory loose fitted clothing.
Two women in Iran have lunch with no hijab and they’re wearing clothing that IS NOT loose fitting
This is terrifying to the Islamic Republic because these women aren’t protesting, they’re not chanting, they’re just living how they want to live.#MahsaAmini #ZhinaAmini pic.twitter.com/0KbL8bbEYe
— Yashar Ali یاشار (@yashar) September 28, 2022
Dozens of protests continue to erupt every night and this worldwide movement appears to be far from over as the world gathers together in support for the protestors. Despite the Iranian government creating internet and app outages nightly, the truth of what is happening in Iran is still getting out on social media to the world.
The body of Christ should pray right now that the underground church would continue to grow and strengthen during this time. Pastors and other Christian leaders are still being arrested, tortured and imprisoned for their faith.
Christian organizations like Voice of the Martyrs are working inside the country to provide training and discipleship for the believers. {eoa}
Shelby Lindsay is an assistant editor for Charisma Media.
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